NBA Thread

[verb_to_trust]

I think the current thread can stay. Isn't that what the MLB guys do?

[Peeps]

Even money says D Rose stays back in the locker room to "get taped up" or some such nonsense so that he avoids the Heat's banner raising celebration.

Everything Derrick is as a basketball player is going to be infuriated by watching that happen, its great. I'm not saying he will come out of the gates running. But he's for sure going to have a chip on his shoulder...

and if he tries to explode like he used to he will have a chip in his knee to match...

[pnjguy]

id say indy and the knicks are going to be miamis biggest challengers with chicago a distant 3rd challenger in the east

The Knicks?

That's cute.

[pnjguy]

Even money says D Rose stays back in the locker room to "get taped up" or some such nonsense so that he avoids the Heat's banner raising celebration.

Everything Derrick is as a basketball player is going to be infuriated by watching that happen, its great. I'm not saying he will come out of the gates running. But he's for sure going to have a chip on his shoulder...

and if he tries to explode like he used to he will have a chip in his knee to match...

You really couldn't think of anything better than that?

[4/5]

One vote for new thread, one for same. Next vote takes it.

[Monkey_Driven]

Just keep it. It's not like it gets a ton of activity anyway.

[4/5]

I think the Pacers are the best contender in the East to take down Miami. Chicago and Brooklyn 2nd and 3rd, though I could see scenarios where either one of them could move higher (Bulls especially) or drop significantly. I don't really know what to Make of the Nets at all and while I think the Bulls will be fine with Thibs and a healthy Rose, there are some question marks there, too.

[4/5]

Just keep it. It's not like it gets a ton of activity anyway.

Done. By the end of June over 50% of my posts were in this thread.

[Monkey_Driven]

Just keep it. It's not like it gets a ton of activity anyway.

Done. By the end of June over 50% of my posts were in this thread.

Makes sense. You had every reason to post a lot this summer. Does anyone else read the player profiles on ESPN insider? They are one of my favorite pre-season traditions.

[pnjguy]

There really isn't any excuse for the Bulls to not compete for the conference title if Rose is healthy. With Butler at the 2, their starting lineup is the best its been since the Jordan era. And their perimeter defense is going to give every team fits. And the bench will still be formidable with Hinrich being relegated to the bench. Only issue is the backup center and limiting Noah's minutes. Look for Gibson to play more center and Deng to play more power forward even though Thibs likes to go big with versatile guys like Noah and Gibson. Going small will be a more maintenance tactic during the regular season.

Indiana still has problems scoring and George is not the go-to guy Rose is. At least not at this point. Scola helps their depleted bench, but he's rapidly declining skills are worrisome, and I don't see him being a factor in the playoffs.

I have my doubts with Miami, most concerning is a rapidly declining Wade, however I believe they'll rest a lot more during the regular season which will make them more fresh for the playoff push, but they'll lose home-court advantage in the process. I feel they'll have to win it on the road like they did in 2011 which won't be easy. With this roster as it sits, Lebron is going to have to be better than he was last year which i think he will. the question is how much better.

No idea what to expect with the Nets, and the Knicks will be a distant 4th with no hope during the playoffs.

[Monkey_Driven]

Seriously, these insider profiles and the knowledge of camps opening this weekend are getting pretty pumped.

My buddy and I share a 5 team online league pass. Besides the T-Wolves and Warriors (our two teams) who should we have as the other 3? I try to avoid having teams that play several games on national TV. Looking for suggestions...

[4/5]

I think the Spurs are crazy fun to watch and criminally overlooked on national tv.

[4/5]

The Wizards could be entertaining.

[verb_to_trust]

The Knicks are not contending. No Carmelo team will ever win a title.

Whoever said Scola boosts the Pacers is probably right. I mean, he's better than Hansbrough....although if you look close at his number he is even more inefficient than Boozer. George is a stud and I think he will rise to superstar level at some point. The Pacers are 2 after the Heat.

Bulls are 3rd though......all the Nets talk is just ESPN fueled. KG and PP are old. Deron Willaims has always been overrated....

[verb_to_trust]

Seriously, these insider profiles and the knowledge of camps opening this weekend are getting pretty pumped.

My buddy and I share a 5 team online league pass. Besides the T-Wolves and Warriors (our two teams) who should we have as the other 3? I try to avoid having teams that play several games on national TV. Looking for suggestions...

KD, Westbrook and Ibaka are fun to watch

The Heat, if only to root against them...

Spurs or Bulls.....just because they play the right way

[Peeps]

the bulls lose deng and it will be too much to overcome

[Joesanity]

The Cavs are either going to be really fun to watch this year or a total trainwreck and everybody gets hurt.

[verb_to_trust]

the bulls lose deng and it will be too much to overcome

Deng is a warrior and one of my favorite Bulls of all time, but he has shown some signs of regression the past few year and has a lot of miles on him at this point. The thing about losing Deng is Jimmy Butler is probably a more natural 3 and can step into that position and play pretty well. That would give them at least some flexibility going forward even though finding a good 2 isn't exactly easy either. Market value for Deng is probably something like Iguodala got, which I think was 4 years at 11 or 12 mil.....

[Monkey_Driven]

Here is what I'm thinking for our 5 team league pass (I don't tend to include teams that are on TV 25+ times unless they are a blast to watch)...

Warriors
T-Wolves
Spurs
Thunder
Bulls/Heat/Rockets

[verb_to_trust]

Yeah, Rockets could be fund but Dwight is such a douche it might cancel out Harden, Lin ect.